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Polyphenolic compounds were examined for their effects on suppressing adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells. Most polyphenolic compounds inhibited adipocyte development from 3T3-L1 cells to some extent. Among them, rutin was the most effective in suppressing adipocyte differentiation in a dosage dependant manner. Activity of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH), which has a central position in lipogenesis in adipose cells, was also decreased by rutin addition at the induction stage. RT-PCR results demonstrated that mRNA expression of adipogenic transcription factors such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-alpha (C/EBPalpha) in 3T3-L1 cells were remarkably down regulated by rutin treatment. For further investigation on anti-adipogenic activities of rutin, it was orally administered (25 and 50 mg/kg b.w/daily) with high-fat diet (64.4% of total calories as fat) to C57BL/6 mice. Body weight gains were less in high-fat diet + rutin fed groups (HFR) than high-fat diet alone fed group (HF) after 4 weeks. Total cholesterol contents in blood were significantly lower in HFR groups. When mRNA expressions of PPARgamma and C/EBPalpha in hepatocytes were compared between the control HF and HFR groups, their expressions in hepatocytes of HFR groups were significantly suppressed. These results indicate that rutin inhibits adipogenic development in pre-adipocytes and hepatocytes by down regulating expressions of key adipogenic transcription factors.

Aim: 6-Shogaol [1-(4-hydroxy-methoxyphenyl)-4-decen-one], a pungent compound isolated from ginger, has shown various neurobiological and anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of 6-shogaol on neuroinflammatory-induced damage of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in Parkinson's disease (PD) models. Methods: Cultured rat mesencephalic cells were treated with 6-shogaol (0.001 and 0.01 μmol/L) for 1 h, then with MPP + (10 µmol/L) for another 23 h. The levels of TNF-α and NO in medium were analyzed spectrophotometrically. C57/BL mice were administered 6-shogaol (10 mg·kg -1 ·d -1 , po) for 3 d, and then MPTP (30 mg/kg, ip) for 5 d. Seven days after the last MPTP injection, behavioral testings were performed. The levels of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and macrophage antigen (MAC)-1 were determined with immunohistochemistry. The expression of iNOS and COX-2 was measured using RT PCR. Results: In MPP + -treated rat mesencephalic cultures, 6-shogaol significantly increased the number of TH-IR neurons and suppressed TNF-α and NO levels. In C57/BL mice, treatment with 6-shogaol reversed MPTP-induced changes in motor coordination and bradykinesia. Furthermore, 6-shogaol reversed MPTP-induced reductions in TH-positive cell number in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and TH-IR fiber intensity in stratum (ST). Moreover, 6-shogaol significantly inhibited the MPTP-induced microglial activation and increases in the levels of TNF-α, NO, iNOS, and COX-2 in both SNpc and ST. Conclusion: 6-Shogaol exerts neuroprotective effects on DA neurons in in vitro and in vivo PD models.

The major polyphenols in PG, particularly catechin, play a significant role in its photoprotective effects on UVB-induced skin damage.

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Oxidative stress, caused by the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), results in cellular damage. Therefore, functional materials with antioxidant properties are necessary to maintain redox balance. Turmeric leaves (Curcuma longa L. leaves; TL) are known to have antioxidant properties, including 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-Azino-di-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), and Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) radical scavenging activity in several studies. The antioxidant effects of TL come from distinct bioactive compounds, such as curcumin, total phenolic compounds, and flavonoids. Therefore, in this study, the antioxidant effects of a water extract of TL (TLE) against H2O2 treatment were assessed in vitro Vero cells and in vivo zebrafish models. The intracellular ROS generation and the proportion of sub-G1 phase cells were evaluated in H2O2- or/and TLE-treated Vero cells to measure the antioxidant activity of TLE. TLE showed outstanding intracellular ROS scavenging activity and significantly decreased the proportion of cells in the sub-G1 phase in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, cell death, ROS generation, and lipid peroxidation in the H2O2-treated zebrafish model were attenuated as a consequence of TLE treatment. Collectively, the results from this study suggested that TLE may be an alternative material to relieve ROS generation through its antioxidant properties or a suitable material for the application in a functional food industry.

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